PM backs Praful in Canadian bribery case

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has cleared Union Minister Praful Patel of allegations that he took a kickback from a Canadian businessman for an Air India contract when he was Civil Aviation Minister, media reports said on Wednesday.

In a letter to Patel, currently the Minister of Heavy Industries,Public Enterprises, Singh reportedly told him that the External Affairs Ministry has been asked to convey to Canada that the contract was never executed as it was not found to be cost-effective.

Earlier, Patel had denied the charges, rubbishing the charges levelled by Indian-born Canadian Nazir Karigar that a close associate of the minister was paid $250,000 in return of approving an Air India contract for security equipment.

Writing to the Prime Minister, Patel had requesting him to seek detailed information and documents from Air India regarding the matter, and convey the "factual position" to Canadian authorities to prevent any embarrassment to the government or to him.

In the letter Singh has apparently said that Civil Aviation Ministry has confirmed that the tender was not pursued by Air India as it was not cost-effective and it also clarified that Patel's authorisation was not required for such contracts.